Honda 250sx First gear grinding

[Jknight]

my 1987 250sx grinds when in first gear and doesn't move. All other gears & reverse work just fine. No other apparent issues.
I messed around with the clutch adjustment and got it to move, but the grinding continued so i stopped messing with it.
From reading around online i believe i have a bent shift fork/gear shaft/ect. Was just wondering if anyone has any insight on this issue before i tear down the entire motor?

Thank you

[dieseldigger]

Without splitting the cases it can be hard to pinpoint what all might be wrong. Your best case scenario is going to be a bent shift Fork. There may also be damage to the 1st gear set on the main shaft, countershaft, or both. And hopefully it hasn't rounded off or hurt the engagement dogs on any other gears as well.

[Dirtcrasher]

Unless you know the entire history of this machine it is probably the thrust washer next to 1st gear.

Lots of guys replace rear axle bearings, swingarm bearings or the rubber boot and they pull the countershaft with those 2 bolts on the left side, BIG MISTAKE!!

When they do this the 1st gear thrust washer falls out and into the crankcase and settles on the bottom. It can be retrieved and fixed without removing the motor, I've done a few.

Once that washer falls out, 1st gear continues to work but at partial engagement. Over time it gets sloppier and starts to grind or jump out of gear.

It is very rarely a shift fork, shift shaft, shift drum but there are some pieces under the left (stator) cover that seem to come loose or snap off. Your issue sounds like 1st gear thrust washer is missing... Just my best guess!